GStar 2009 Wrap-up

[Perfecttear]

There was a video were the icon's border to "change" was rotating (indicates autocast).

So I guess by default, the Changeling wont transform unless you click the icon or set it on autocast. The player probably forgot to cast/autocast the transform ability during those videos.

[Norfindel]

I cannot think of a single situation were you want the Changeling NOT to morph. I mean, it's the only purpose the unit has. Having to stop for that to happend would also be seriously retarded. What would be the point of that?

[Gifted]

After looking closely at the video (TvZ Desert gameplay, part three, around 3:20) I think I found out what happened.

If you take a unit with an autocast ability on, and direct it to "MOVE" it will move to the destination no matter what. If you take a unit with autocast and ATTACK MOVE to that spot, autocast will take priority. What I suspect is that the person did not use the ATTACKMOVE on the unit. (The button was there and not greyed out)

I haven't looked at the other linked videos yet, but if they have a moment with a changling changing correctly, look at the buttons if you can and see if they use "attack move" or "move" or "move -- then -- stop".

[RODTHEGOD]

... you know Dsquid, all your arguments use flawed logic. I'm not even going to try to pick them apart because it wouldn't go anywhere. The logic in your head is just so twisted and morphed that you can't comprehend real logic. The only conclusion I can come to is that there really is something wrong with you.

[Perfecttear]

I cannot think of a single situation were you want the Changeling NOT to morph. I mean, it's the only purpose the unit has.

Once the Changeling transforms, I believe that it can't change back.
I believe that is why the Changeling's ability is either auto-casted or manual. Since it can only transform once, I guess the developers didn't want to screw you over with the Changeling morphing into a race that you didn't want (perhaps you wanted it to change into a Protoss but suddenly a Terran appeared out of nowhere).

[Norfindel]

After looking closely at the video (TvZ Desert gameplay, part three, around 3:20) I think I found out what happened.

If you take a unit with an autocast ability on, and direct it to "MOVE" it will move to the destination no matter what. If you take a unit with autocast and ATTACK MOVE to that spot, autocast will take priority. What I suspect is that the person did not use the ATTACKMOVE on the unit. (The button was there and not greyed out)

I haven't looked at the other linked videos yet, but if they have a moment with a changling changing correctly, look at the buttons if you can and see if they use "attack move" or "move" or "move -- then -- stop".

That could make sense for Auto-repair, but not for this kind of ability. They should fix that.

Once the Changeling transforms, I believe that it can't change back.
I believe that is why the Changeling's ability is either auto-casted or manual. Since it can only transform once, I guess the developers didn't want to screw you over with the Changeling morphing into a race that you didn't want (perhaps you wanted it to change into a Protoss but suddenly a Terran appeared out of nowhere).

If that's the case, it wasn't ever said, and conflicts with the Changeling history.

I think it's likely that the Auto-cast is there in the case you want to disable it on more than 2-player games (specially allied games), so that your Changeling won't morph uselessly when there are 2 enemy races near, and spoil it's disguise.

I wonder how do you see your own Changeling, maybe like a Hallucination, but using another color?

[Gifted]

... you know Dsquid, all your arguments use flawed logic. I'm not even going to try to pick them apart because it wouldn't go anywhere. The logic in your head is just so twisted and morphed that you can't comprehend real logic. The only conclusion I can come to is that there really is something wrong with you.

Rod, I understand that you may feel this way but I believe you should have stated this as your opinion of Squid instead of directly stating it as fact.

I personally can see his logic often, even if I don't agree with it. And even if I were to not understand it, I would spend more effort into understanding it instead of simply stating that there is something wrong with the person.

As a note to everyone, let's ensure we keep the respect level up.

That could make sense for Auto-repair, but not for this kind of ability. They should fix that.

It works just fine for the Medic in SC:BW. As you moved forward, the medic would march to her death. If you "attack moved" with her, she used her autocast ability when able to. It's important to note that both the medic and changling do not have an attack. Maybe the better term is "action move" but it's not as catchy

My opinion seems to be different than yours on this one. I believe it's not broken because it's the same scenario with every unit in the game. To ensure UI familiarity/consistency we should avoid making the changeling an exception. If a unit is issued a "move" command, it should do no other options, including autocasts. If it's issued "Attack move" it should do actions on the way. That's my two cents on the matter at least. ^_^

(And before I get people discussing how the old medic ability wasn't autocast, the same mentality works in WC3 constantly with any autocast unit, including priests.. Attack move = Autocasts work. Manual move = all other actions off.)

I wonder how do you see your own Changeling, maybe like a Hallucination, but using another color?

This inspired me to think of something... something that I am not suggesting to be put into the real game.. but something that might be able to be utilized in some hilarious UMS. Imagine the changeling being able to be controlled by the dupped player. If a person isn't watching their base and has 2 barracks pointing to a rally point.. they go back and see 8 marines.. send them into battle... come back to base later and see 15.. send them into battle..

I think it would be hilarious that 10 of those marines are changelings that deal no damage. You're wondering why your units aren't killing that mob heading in...

Yes, this was a tangent... I apologize for that ^_^

[DemolitionSquid]

ROD and I have never gotten along, Gifted. Hes just insulting me for the sake of it. Kind of like how Archer and Pandontho argue with me just to bait me.

[Norfindel]

It works just fine for the Medic in SC:BW. As you moved forward, the medic would march to her death. If you "attack moved" with her, she used her autocast ability when able to. It's important to note that both the medic and changling do not have an attack. Maybe the better term is "action move" but it's not as catchy

My opinion seems to be different than yours on this one. I believe it's not broken because it's the same scenario with every unit in the game. To ensure UI familiarity/consistency we should avoid making the changeling an exception. If a unit is issued a "move" command, it should do no other options, including autocasts. If it's issued "Attack move" it should do actions on the way. That's my two cents on the matter at least. ^_^

(And before I get people discussing how the old medic ability wasn't autocast, the same mentality works in WC3 constantly with any autocast unit, including priests.. Attack move = Autocasts work. Manual move = all other actions off.)

Ah! But it's different! When you issue a move command to the Medic, you don't want it to stop to heal people. The same with the SCV. But the Changeling shouldn't stop his movement to morph, and even if it does need to stop a split second, that allows him to survive. I think that the fact that you could want to keep the current Changeling form is enough to disable the autocast, but why would the unit refuse to morph because it's moving? That's like a Wraith stopping to cloak. If the Wraith had autocloak when near enemy units, would you expect that it doesn't Cloaks because it's moving?

This inspired me to think of something... something that I am not suggesting to be put into the real game.. but something that might be able to be utilized in some hilarious UMS. Imagine the changeling being able to be controlled by the dupped player. If a person isn't watching their base and has 2 barracks pointing to a rally point.. they go back and see 8 marines.. send them into battle... come back to base later and see 15.. send them into battle..

I think it would be hilarious that 10 of those marines are changelings that deal no damage. You're wondering why your units aren't killing that mob heading in...

Yes, this was a tangent... I apologize for that ^_^

That would be good, i think. After all, the Changeling is supposed to act barely like a normal Marine, right? That's what happened in the history, anyways.

[flabortast]

The hot key for heal on the medic was "a". That is why it worked well in conjunction with marines in the same group because attack ground also means heal ground.